Chapter 2: I think that’s what it should be

Seoa’s usual stories were about the events of the day.

This time was no different.

When she spoke of a spiteful peer who scolded her in front of seniors for waking up later than them, Noya clicked his tongue.

– Tsk. That guy again. He did the same last time.

When she told of a senior from another room who got caught by the head servant for harassing a junior, he chuckled.

– Heh. Looks like you won’t be sleeping easy from now on either.

When she recounted how two seniors forced her and Soso to handle a task meant for five, he swallowed a groan.

– Hmm… Those guys’ antics are getting worse by the day.

Whenever I shared a story, Noya responded in kind.

Of course, even then, his gaze remained fixed on his sword.

As the day’s tales neared their end, Seo began, clapping her hands as if getting to the main point.

“Alright, listen up. This is the important part. I won’t be able to come here for a while.”

“What? Getting tired of talking to this old man already?”

Noya spoke gruffly.

But Seo noticed his eyebrows twitch slightly.

Deep down, he must be disappointed by the news.

‘Not so honest, are you?’

Pleased that Noya felt reluctant, Seo continued.

“It’s not that. I’m going on a business trip.”

“A trip? Where to?”

“To Kyomakwan. They’re holding a graduation ceremony, so they must need extra hands.”

“Hmm… That’s at least two days of crossing mountains.”

Noya was right.

Kyomakwan, the only institution training the Demon Cult’s future talents, had strict security.

To raise skilled warriors, it blocked all outside interference.

One measure was its location, far from the cult’s central hub.

Noya was likely worried about untrained servants crossing rugged mountains.

Shingang’s terrain is treacherous. Stray even slightly, and you might encounter wild beasts, facing danger.

Seo smiled reassuringly.

“Come on… You think they’d send plain disciples like me alone? The head servant, a true disciple, and warriors from the Guardian Court are coming too.”

Noya nodded and said.

“Is there a special reason for going to Kyomakwan?”

“You know I’m not a born disciple, right?”

“…I didn’t.”

Seo was momentarily speechless at the unexpected reply.

‘Did I never mention it?’

It had been a year since she started these daily chats with Noya.

Sharing countless stories, she assumed he knew her past vaguely.

It might seem odd that two people who talk daily know nothing of each other’s history.

But they never directly pried into each other’s pasts.

It was an unspoken rule.

Or rather, when Seo first met Noya, she asked about his name or past, but his response was cold denial.

– No need to know. Don’t even try.

That was back when they weren’t as close.

That conversation set an unspoken rule, preventing them from digging into each other’s pasts.

“Around this time last year, they ‘rescued’ disciples from the Central Plains, right? I was among them. My friends went to Kyomakwan, so I want to check on them.”

“…I see.”

The Demon Cult had three types of disciples.

First, those born into it, naturally becoming disciples.

Second, those from the Central Plains who couldn’t endure official oppression or committed crimes, seeking refuge in Shingang to join the cult.

Third, those like Seo, who were bought.

The term “rescued” was a euphemism for buying disciples from the Central Plains.

Noya, unaware of Seo’s past, fell silent, feeling awkward.

Seo, however, didn’t hold much resentment about her past.

“How long will it take?”

“Maybe about a week?”

“Alright. Be caref— Never mind. You’ll manage fine. Safe travels.”

“Huh? Were you just worried about me?”

“…”

“Getting shy, huh?”

A brief exchange passed, and their conversation paused.

Noya, unbothered, kept swinging his sword, eyes fixed on it.

But with Seo’s usual chatter absent, rare as it was, Noya grew uneasy.

The silence made him dwell on Seo’s unfortunate past.

Finally, Noya, in a rare move, turned his gaze from the sword to Seo.

The girl stared at the ground, opening and closing her mouth like a dog needing to relieve itself.

‘Should I really say this?’

‘But I shouldn’t…’

Her expression screamed internal conflict.

‘Is she curious about my past?’

If this were Noya from early in their acquaintance, he’d have stayed stone-faced, but now was different.

Maybe telling her his name wouldn’t hurt?

The thought lingered.

He wouldn’t bring it up himself, given his earlier words, but if she asked, he was willing to answer.

Seo finally looked up at Noya.

“Huh? Oh… You looked away from your sword? I thought you’d swing it even while eating or, uh, doing your business.”

“I’m human, aren’t I? I put the sword down when I eat or sh*t. Sometimes I swing it lazily like now. And isn’t it your fault for making me worry?”

“Because I mentioned my past and went quiet?”

“Exactly.”

“I didn’t say much because it’s not a big deal… But seeing you turn your head, maybe bringing up the past was a good move.”

“Cut the nonsense. Stop acting like a dog that needs to sh*t.”

“Huh?”

“You look like you’ve got something to say. Spit it out.”

“Uh…”

Seo swallowed hard.

Noya, seeing this, cursed himself for being too harsh initially.

“Any question’s fine. I won’t get mad, whatever you say.”

Seo, half-doubting, opened and closed her mouth, choosing her words.

After a long pause, her voice finally emerged.

But the question was something Noya never expected.

“Have you… ever thought about easing the strength in your sword?”

The air around them sank.

When did it start?

Watching Noya swing his sword, Seo began to see someone blocking his strikes.

Since then, she often pondered how Noya could break an opponent’s stance.

Of course, it was absurd for someone ignorant of swordsmanship to think this way… but she did.

She wondered if Noya was putting too much force into his sword.

For days, she’d been dying to tell him.

But now that she’d said it, joy turned to self-reproach.

‘I must be crazy. Why did I bring this up?’

If she had to say why, it was because it felt necessary.

But Seo knew her place and should’ve held her tongue as usual.

A warrior’s pride is immense.

Even for non-warriors, suggesting “Why not try this?” to a master who’s honed one path their whole life is a grave insult.

Especially from someone clueless in the field.

Seo shut her eyes, bracing for Noya’s scolding.

But his voice was calmer than expected.

“No trace of martial training… Was your family a martial one?”

“Uh… No.”

“Do you often see swords, aside from watching me?”

“No…”

As Noya’s questions continued, Seo’s voice grew smaller.

Noya asked.

“Then how’d you come up with that?”

“Just… It seemed like, to break the stance of whoever you’re swinging at, that’s what you should do.”

“…”

Noya stopped swinging his sword for the first time in front of Seo and approached her.

Handing her the sword, he said.

“What kind of stance do you think they’re taking?”

“Uh… Well… Um…”

“Don’t tense up. Do I look angry?”

Seo shook her head.

If anything, he seemed intrigued.

Hesitant, she took Noya’s sword.

The weapon was heavy for a young servant, so Seo gripped it with both hands, awkwardly striking a pose.

Noya smirked at the sight.

“You rascal. So clumsy. Can’t even hold a sword properly, yet you’re giving advice?”

“Ugh… Don’t tease me.”

In just moments of holding the sword, Seo was sweating, her face flushed red.

It was clear why she never made it to Kyomakwan.

She lacked the innate strength to wield weapons like limbs, far from a born warrior.

Noya stepped close, pressed a finger to her forehead, and pushed lightly.

“W-Wah!”

As Seo lost her balance, about to fall with the heavy sword, Noya caught her by the nape with his right hand and retrieved the sword with his left.

“You fool. Don’t you know how dangerous it is to critique a warrior’s technique?”

Though scolding, Noya’s expression looked pleased.

More accurately, he seemed to find the situation amusing.

Even more than when Seo told entertaining stories.

Like giving a fun toy to a child.

It was a new side of Noya.

“Uh… I… Well…”

“Enough. You wouldn’t know. I’ll let it slide since I said what I did. But never casually discuss martial arts with others.”

“Yes…”

Seo inwardly sighed in relief at Noya’s unexpectedly lenient attitude.

“But are you interested in martial arts?”

“Uh… Well, a little…?”

Seo trailed off.

It was a tricky question.

Saying she wasn’t interested would be a lie.

Who wouldn’t want to walk on water or fly through the air? If asked, she’d say yes.

But Seo knew she had no talent for martial arts.

And wasn’t martial training expensive?

Where would she get money for food and lodging if she wasn’t skilled?

How could she afford elixirs costlier than gold to advance her realm?

And where would she find superior weapons to avoid being cut by stray blades?

She’d once dreamed of learning martial arts and roaming the martial world, but she’d long abandoned that thought.

Noya nodded, pulled a book from his robe, and tossed it to her.

“That’s enough. Catch.”

“What’s this?”

“It’s… something like the Three Talents Heart Method. You know what that is, right?”

The name of a basic martial arts manual common in the Central Plains’ markets.

How could she not have heard of it?

It appeared in martial arts novels all the time!

Of course, even a common manual like that, Seo had never read.

Even a cheap one cost more than a silver coin.

Sold to this place because she couldn’t afford a single meal, how could her family have that kind of money?

“So… why this?”

“A gift. A birthday gift.”

“Out of nowhere? It’s not even my birthday.”

“Consider it an early one. If… you master it by next week, I’ll teach you martial arts.”

“What?”

“I’ll make you a true disciple.”

“Why… why would you?”

Flustered by the sudden kindness, Noya spoke gruffly.

“A reward for closely watching my worthless swordplay. What, don’t want it? Shall I take it back?”

“N-No way!”

Seo hurriedly clutched the book to her chest and stood.

“Oh! Look at the time! I’ll get scolded by the seniors if I don’t go!”

“Right. Heh. Off you go.”

“Thank you! Overwhelmingly thank you!”

Bowing repeatedly, Seo rushed down the mountain.

Just in case Noya changed his mind.

Alone, Noya looked down the hill, smiling faintly.

‘Funny kid.’

Not only did she speak casually to a true disciple trained in martial arts, but she also critiqued his swordplay.

If her observation hadn’t matched a solution he’d thought of ten years ago, he’d have scolded her harshly.

That’s what martial arts meant to a warrior.

‘Her point was useless since I’d already tried it…’

But for someone untrained to make such a plausible critique.

And to notice who he was envisioning while swinging his sword?

Her martial talent might be lacking, but her insight seemed sharp.

…

…

…

A strange silence passed.

Noya erased his smile and spoke.

“Come out.”

From the forest emerged a middle-aged man with white hair, or rather, ash-gray hair, like Noya’s.

“Father, are you thinking of taking that girl as a disciple?”

“…If she can form a dantian within a week.”

“Impossible. Even prodigies from the eight great families take a month with their family’s support…”

“That’s not your concern.”

“…”

The man fell silent at those words.

“So, why are you here?”

“The Left Envoy requests a meeting.”

Noya nodded slowly.